Typographical distributing machine



D. SfKENNEDY TYPOGRAPHI CAL DI STR IBUTING MACHINE Dec. 1,'1925. 1,563,750 D. s. KENNEDY TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Apr11'4, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR TORN% Patented Dec. l, 1925.

UNITE-n STATES PA TIE-NT DAVID s. KENNEDY, OEBEOOKLYN, vNEW Yo'i'tK, Assi-enen To MEEGENTHALEE LiNo TYPE COMPANY, A conronArioN or NEW YORK.

TYPOGEAPHICAL nisiniianrine MACHINE.

Application filed April 4, 1925. Serial-No.=20848.

To all whom z'tfmufy concern. Y

Be it known that lLDAvID S. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, :residing at Brooklyn, .in the county of Kings, State ot New York, have invented certain Lnevvand useful Improvements in 'llypographical Distributing Machines, .of ywhich Vthe1to1leaving .is a specilieation.

The l.inveii'titni l.relates A.to typographical distributing. machines, such as .-.linotypem'achines of the general organization repre# sente-din U., S. Lett-ers Patent' toLO. Mergen- .thaler, No. 436,532, rivherein circulating matrices are released from a .magazine'in the order .in Which'their 'characters 1areto appear in print and .then assembled'in line, the composed line transferred to'tlieface of a mold, theniold filled Witliinolteii=nietal to form a'slug or linotype against the imatrices `which produce 'the type characters thereon, yand the matrices thereafter Vreturned through a `distributing `mechanism to the magazine vfrom which `they started. In some machines, such as the commercial model 9, where matrices maybe vdravvn'ffroin several magazines and mixed vtogether in the same line. the distributing mechanism includes a primary distributor, Whichfirst sorts the matrices according to font, and a plurality of main distributors whichv thereai'ter sort the matrices of the individual -fonts according lto character and restore them to their proper channels in-theniagazines. 'iVith this type of distributing mechanism, thema-trices, after font separation, pass'down chutes or tubes and enter sowcalled lower distributor boxes, from which they are fed one at a time to the main distributors under the control of reciprocating paivls or escapements. In order that these pawls or escapeinents may coopeete properly with the matrices, vthe latter are provided in their bott-oni edges with central notches, Whichnecessarily vary in shapeand depth according to the thickness of the individual matrices. ABesides adding to the cost ot production, suoli notches inthe matrices materially limit the space ordinarily required .For the regular font notches and,-more over, seriously weaken the matrices, especially when the latter` are formed With other necessary cuts or notches. Furthermore, matri- Ices comprising fonts used on other' machines,

such as those ofthe .single distributor class,

are excluded from use :on .machinesjo'f .the l `multiple distributor class described, v"since they do not have .the `required central notches.

referred .to. :According to these improve-f ments, each of the lower distributor boxes, instead of being `equipped vvitlia pair Vot' reciprocating pawls or escape'ments, as customar-y, .is lprovided with a matrx lifting iinger and 'a cooperating pusher member,the

former acting to feed the matrices,onezat `a time, to the .overlying main distributor,

and thelatter acting byits engagement with f the projecting-ears of the 'matrices to advance them into the range of. action ofthe lifting linger.

The present invention is directed to vari- -lous improvementsin a distributorbox of this particular type, although some of `them may be advantageously employed in'boxes of lother types. These improvements will best be understood from? the detailed descrip.- 7tion to follow.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention hasfbeeii shown merely in preferred :form and by Way of example and as applied -tovthe speciiictype of'distributor box indicated. However, many changes and varia- -tions may be made therein and inits mode of application, Which Will still be comprised vWithin its spirit. It is to be understood,

theretore,'tliat the invention is not limited `to any specific form or embodiment, except 1n-so far as such limitations `are specified in the claims. f

Referring to the drawings: Fig. lis a side elevation, 'partly broken aivaygof the'impr'oved distributor box;

Fig. '2 is a vertical transverse section,

ftaken on the line`2-2 oflFig. l;

Fig. 3 is avieiv, similar to Fig. `1With .one of the box side plates removed, .and showing the pusher member in its retracted position 5 kSO Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section, taken on theline i-a of Fig. 3;

Fig. is a perspective view of the matrix pusher member detached; and

Figs. G and 7 are detail views of the pusher cam, Fig. 7 being a. section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

rlhe matrices X are dropped by the primary distributor (not shown) into tubes or chutes A1 and enter one or another of the lower distributor boxes B, through which they are guided in upright position by their projecting ears fc upon the upper and lower inclined rails B1. The rails of each box are formed with matrix arresting shoulders B2 rising from the horizontal portions B3, and have the customary extensions B1 arranged directly beneath the receiving ends of the corresponding main distributor, the

' latter com arising as usual the longitudil @a a c nally ribbed bar C and set of matrix conveying screws G1. Fach of the boxes is equipped with a reciprocating matrix pusher member D and a matrix lifting linger E, the pusher member being constructed and arranged to engage the matrices by their four projecting ears a, and acting to deliver them forwardly in a vertical position, with out danger of tilting or displacement, to a point where they are engaged by the liftingl linger and lifted thereby into the threads of the distributor screws C1. rlhe pusher member D and lifting nger E are both con trolled from a cam shaft F4 driven by the spindle C2 of one of Ythe distributor screws C1, soas to operate in perfect synchronism in feeding matrices to the distributor, the cam shaft being aligned with the screw spindle and connected thereto by a clutch J, which permits the ready removal and replacementV of the distributor box. An edge or peripheral cam F5, fixed to the shaft F t and engaging a roller E4 of a spring rod E3, actuates the lifting finger E through a rocking lever El and a return spring E?. The operating connections for the pusher member will 'subsequently be described. The head portion of the pusher member D is constructed to present four ear engaging blocks arranged in upper and lower pairs and having their forward edges aligned. in the same vertical plane, the blocks D2 of the upper pair being carried on the forward ends of bracket plates DLk and arranged to engage the matrices by their upper projecting ears, and the blocks D3 of the lower pair being connected directly to the pusher member and arranged to engage the matrices by their lower projecting ears. The upper and lower guide rails B] are notched or slotted at Bito accomodate the pusher blocks D2, D3, which move horizontally across the inclined portions of the rails. Normally, the upper edges of the pusher blocks are disposed in the path of the gravitating matrices and check them by their project-ing ears in the dotted line position shown in Fig. l, but when the pusher member is retracted, the blocks are drawn within their respective slots B5 beneath the inclined portions of the rails B1 (see Fig. 3), and the matrices arrested by the blocks are then free to drop onto the horizontal portions B3 of the rails, where they are immediately subjected to the action of the pusher blocks and advanced thereby solidly and squarely up against the arresting shoulders B2. At this point, the matrices are lifted by the finger E clear of the arresting shoulders and into the threads of the conveying screws C1, which carry them forwardly along the upper edges of the extensions B4 and into engagement with the distributor bar C. A separator blade Gr, which is customarily used in connection with a lifting linger, is also provided and, besides performing'its normal function of keeping succeeding matrices in place while the leading one is being lifted it serves coordinately with the lower portion of the upper rail adjacent the lifting finger toprevent forward tilting or displacement of a matrix while supported by the blocks D2 as the latter move toward the arresting shoulders B2. The foregoing parts and their mode of operation, except as hereinafter pointed ont, are or may be the same as those embodied in the Rogers application before mentioned. rEhe improvements, to which the present invention is directed, will now be taken up and described in detail.

First, it may be noted that the pusher member, in the present inst-ance, is formed with a shank portion D1 extending rearwardly from the head portion and slidably mounted in fixed bearings BT, B8 rising from the base plate B6 of the distributor box. The pusher member may thus be properly guided and sustained in its reciprocating movements independently of the head portion, which latter is made free or floating, clearance enough being allowed between the entire head portion (including the bracket plates D, the pusher blocks D2, D3 and the supporting nose D5) and the adjacent surfaces of the distributor box to provide for such a floating fit. This arrangement not only simplifies the manufacture of the parts but also greatly improves their operation, since the slide bearings for the pusher member, which of course require a certain amount of lubrication, are suiiiciently spaced from the course traversed by the matrices that any danger of oil reaching the latter is eliminated. In this connection, it will be understood that the matrices should be kept as clean as possible and particularly free from oils or lubricants of any kind,

lil() which latter `quickly coll-"ect dust and `dirt and seriously interfere with proper handling of the matrices. I

Next, it is pointed out that the operating connections for the pusher member l) comprise alever F of the third order pivoted at `itsupper-end to the distiibutoibox and forked at its lower end to engagea Ypin protruding transversely lfrom the shank portion D1. Between itsends, the lever F isprovided with a roller vF1 arranged to be engaged `by a face cam F2 keyed `to the shaft F4 andnfhich serves `to actuatc the pusher through the connections just described. f in extension :spring F3, anchored to the slide bearing B7 and connected belon1 the `roller Fl to the lever F, tendslto keep the roller in constant engagement with the face of the cam F2 and-acts through said lever to move the pusher member forwardly when permitted by said cam. lilith this arrangement and due in part to the character of the lever (F andthe size and type of cam employed, the recipro'cation of the pusher member D is carried out smoothly and easily and with little wear on the moving parts. Furthermore, the cam shaft F4 is supported with the greatest degree of rigidity for'withstanding the strainV to which it issubjectedfby an outer bearing B10 arranged preferably between the cams F2 and F5.

Means are also provided for effecting relative adjustment 'between the cam F and the operating lever F, in order thatthe stroke of the pusher vmember D may be accurately determined and maintained within the required limitations, it being understood that in the extreme forward position of the pusher, the blocks D2, D3 should just clear the matrix arresting shoulders B2; otherwise the blocl-zswould bank against the shoulders when the box was running idly and cause unnecessary noise and probable burring of the shoulders. At the same time,fit is important that such clearance be suiliciently restricted so that matrices of minimum thicknesswill be delivered solidly against the arresting` shoulders by the pusher member. Accordingly, the pusher cam F2 is mounted foraxial adjustment on the shaft F* and, in the embodiment shown (see Figs. 6 and 7), it is formed with a radial notch or slot F to receive a key pin FT projecting` from the shaft, a set screw F being provided lto hold the cam in its adjusted positions. Thus, the time of the initial setting-of the pusher, or in the event of wearupon the parts, it is simply necessary to loosen the set screw FS und shift the cam F3 to the required point, the slot Fo being sufficiently deep to permit the adjustment. Since the thrust will always be in a' forward direction against the outer face of the cam, it is proposed tolinterpose shims or verythin washfers Flo between the cam and bearing BI" (as shown in Figs. l and 3) so that the latter may take the thrust, instead of relying solely upon the set screw FS.

Referring nowfto the clutch J, which permits the ready removal and replacement-of `the distributor box, the driven member l1 mounted in the end of the shaft'Fl, so asto yield rearwardly against the tension of va spring J3 seated behind it, a pin and slot vconnection gli* being employed to key said `member to the shaft and permit therelative movement desired. The driving member-J2 is fastened totheend of the screw spindle 'C2 and is provided with an aligning sleeve J, which isarranged to surround thev two iembers when properly engaged. Accordingly, the clutch is adapted to-pick up auto` metically or become engaged without manual attention'whenever the boxiis replaced in operative position. As a further feature, the engaging surfaces of the two clutch members are beveled or wedge-shajjied as at J, which feature not only facilitates their engagement, but, since fthe spring J" -acts constantly to press the said vsurfaces together, a tight joint is maintained` atall times irrespective of wear. In this way, any relative rotary displacement of the-two clutch members is obvi-ated and therequired relation between the camshaft FL andthe distributor screws C1 is always maintained. The aligning sleeve J5 prevents any lateral separation of the-clutch members-due to the wedging action of their beveled surfaces.

Means are further provided for guiding `the lifting finger E, so that its initial purchase on the bottom edge-of a matrix will be gradually increased las the latter is 'lifted above the arresting shoulders vB?. Anar- Lrangenient of this kind is very advantageous Vsince the extent of the fingers engagement with a matix at the start ordinarily does not xceed .027--an extent determined by the 'thickness of the thinnest matrix-and there is more or less danger of a matrix slipping off the top of the linger before `it becomes engaged `by the distributor screws. Such means, according to the present invention, consist of a pair of blocks l( fastened to the inner walls ofthe lower railextensions 'B'l and formed with inclined surfaces Kl, which. serve to guide the lifting finger in the desired path. An adjusting sere f lli', having a threaded ei'igagen'ient with the finger E and proj ecting outwardly from one of the side faces thereof, is formed with a read Fi convexed on its under side to lit a corresponding recess in a small wair plate El (see Figs. il and el). The wear plateli-T has 'a sliding engagement with the guiding surfaces Kl, against which it held by the screw E5 `under the'tension'of a spring li*S anchored to the rocking lever El and connccted to the opposite side face of the lifting finger E. It will now be seen, as a result of this arrangement, that as the lifting finger is moved upwardly, Vthe wear plate lil" is caused to follow the inclined surfaces K1, the socket bearing between said plate and the screw head E allowing the latter` to adapt itself to the in* clination of said surfaces. ln this way, the linger is made to swing inwardly beneath the matrix being lifted to an extent determined by the degree of inclination of the guiding surfaces lil, or for a distance sui"- icient to prevent the matrix slipping off the top edge of the finger. Furthermore, the arrangement provides for a convenient adjustmeut of the lifting linger in setting or resetting it in operative position, it being simply necessary to turn the screw one way or the other to move the linger toward or from the guide blocks l, which action will change its relation to the arresting shoulders B2 and determine its .initial purchase on the matrices.

lVhi-le, as above stated, the foregoing improvements are particularly useful in connection with a .gravity box of the kind covered in the pending application of .lohn R. Rogers before referred to, they or some of them may advantageously be applied te distributor boxes of other kinds. For instance, the improvements made in the clutch between the cam shaft F* and the screw spindle C2, or thosel made in respect to the lifting finger E, would be readily applicable to the ordinary lift box and would function in substantially the same way asherein described,

Havingthus described` my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. In a typographical distributing machine, the combination of a distributor box through which the matrices pass by gravity, a matrix lifting finger, a reciprocating pusher member for advancing the matrices into the range of action of the lifting finger, and adjusting means to regulate the stroke of the pusher member.

2. In a typographical distributing rmachine, the combination of a distributor' box through which the matrices pass by gravity, a matrix lifting finger, a reciprocating pusher member for advancing the matrices into the" range of action of the lifting finger, a cam-actuated lever for operating the .pusher member, and means for effecting a relative adjustment between said lever and A its actuating cam to regulate the stroke of the pusher member.

5. In a typographical distributing machine, the combination of a distributor box through which the matrices pass by gravity,

a matrix lifting linger, a reciprocating pusher member for advancing the matrices into the range 'of action of the lifting linger, a constantly driven shaft, and a cam sccured thereto for actuating the pusher inember, the said cam being adjustable on the shaft to regulate the stroke of the pusher member.

4. In a typographical distributing machine, the combination of a distributor box through which the matrices pass by gravity, a matrix lifting linger, a reciprocating pusher member for advancing the matrices into the range of action of the lifting linger, a constantly driven shaft, and a face cam secured thereto for actuating the pusher member, the said face cam being adjustable axially on said shaft to regulate the stroke of thc pusher member.

5.111 a typographical distributing machine, the combination of a distributor box through which the matrices pass by gravity,

a matrix lifting linger, a cooperating .ma-

trix pusher member, a peripheral cam for actuating the lifting finger, a face cam for actuat'ig the pusher member, a shaft whercon the cams are mounted, and bearings for said shaft, one arranged between the two cams, for the purpose described.

G. ln a typographical distributing machine, the combination of a distributor box through which Vthe matrices pass by gravity, a matrix lifting linger, a reciprocating pusher member for advancing the matrices into the range of action of the lifting finger, a spring controlled lever of the third order connected to the pusher member, and a constantly driven face cam for actuating said lever.

7.111 a typographical distributing machine equipped with matrices formed with projecting ears, the combination of a distributor box, a matrix lifting finger, a rcciprocating pusher member to advance the matrices into the range of action of the lifting finger, said pusher member having a floating head portion constructed to cooper ate with the projecting ears of the matrices, and means for guiding and sustaining the reciprocating pusher member imlepemlcntl).Y of its head portion.

8. In a typographical distributing machine equipped with matrices formed with projecting ears, the combination of a distributor box, a matrix lifting linger, a reciprocating pusher member to zulvance the matrices into the range of action of the lifting linger, said pusher member consisting' of a floating head portion constructed to engage the matrices by their projecting cars and a shank portion projecting rearwardly therefrom, and fixed bearings wherein the shank portion'is sustained and guided.

9.1n a typographical distributing nialas chine including a distributor bar and a set of constantly driven matrix conveying screws, the combination of a removable distributor box, and means for feeding matrices therefrom to the screws, including a cam shaft mounted in the box and aligned with one of the screw spindles, a clutch comprising a driving member screwed to the screw spindle and a driven member keyed to the cam shaft, and a sleeve carried by one of said members torhold them in proper alignment when engaged.

10. In a typographical distributing ma chine including a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, and means for feeding the matrices theiefrom to the screws, including a cam shaft driven by one of the screw spindles, and a driving clutch arranged between said shaft and screw spindle, the said clutch comprising a driving member and a driven member having their engaging portions correspondingly beveled to prevent relative rotary displacement when engaged.

11. In a typographical distributing machine including a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, and means for feeding the matrices therefrom to the screws, including a cam shaft driven by one of the screw spindles, and a driving. clutch arranged between said shaft and screw spindie, the said clutch comprising a driving member and a driven member having their engaging portions correspondingly beveled, and an aligning sleeve surrounding said members when engaged.

12. In a typographical distributing machine including a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, and means for feeding the matrices therefrom to the screws, including a cam shaft driven by one of the screw spindles, and a driving clutch arranged between said shaft and screw spindle, the said clutch comprising a beveled driving member and a correspondingly beveled driven member, one spring-pressedtoward the other, for the purpose described.

13. In a typographical distributing machine including a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, and means for feeding the matrices therefrom to the screws, including a cam shaft driven by one of the screw spindles, and a driving clutch arranged between said shaft and screw spindle, the said clutch comprising a beveled driving member and a correspondingly beveled driven member, one springpressed toward the other, and an aligning sleeve surrounding the clutch members when engaged.

11i. yIn a typographical distributing machine including a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the com bination of a distributor box, a reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices successively into the threads of the conveying screws, and means for guiding the finger in its reciprocating movements, said guiding means being arranged to permit a facewisc movement of the finger during its upstroke for increasing its purchase on the bottom edge of a matrix being lifted.

15. In a typographical distributing machine including a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, a reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices successively into the threads of the conveying screws, means for guiding the linger in its reciprocating movements, and means for adjusting the finger facewise in relation to said guiding means, for the purpose described.

16. In a typographical distributing machine including a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, a spring controlled reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices successively into the threads of the conveying screws, inclined guiding surfaces adjacent the finger, and an adjusting pin or screw carried by the latter and engaging said guiding surfaces.

17. In a typographical distributing mechanism, comprisinga distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a vertically reciprocating :finger for lifting the matrices successively into the threads of the screws, and means for imparting a sidewise movement to said finger during its upstroke to increase its purchase on the bottom edge of the matrix being lifted.

18. In a typographical distributing mechanism, comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box through which the matrices pass by gravity, a vertically reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices successively into the threads of the screws, and means for arresting the matrices in the path of the linger, the latter being arranged to move sidewise during its upstrole to increase its purchase on the bottom edge of the matrix being lifted.

In testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my signature hereto.

DAVID S. KENNEDY. 

